I hardly ever get it right. I hardly ever find the perfect balance of work-life, mom-life, wife-life, family-life, friend-life and blog life. Someone always gets the short end of the stick. That someone usually lives in my house. He is 6. He is 7. She is 4. He is 36.

I invest far too much time tuned in to the lives of people who know me and need me the least. I focus too much energy on things that can wait, all the while my children will never be this age again, and I am missing it.

I realized it the day that everything worked. I did all the things they tell you to do to have a house that is beautiful enough for social media. I started receiving emails about real collaborations so much so that I put together the beginning phases of my media kit. My views started growing. My following started growing, and I almost lost sight of the fact that my kids…were growing.

I thank God for almost.

As I type these words, my 4-year old daughter is playing loudly with the dog behind me. We just sorted Skittles by color all so that she could give half of the bag away because that is just the type of person she is.

All of this leads to one point. I decided to be present. I decided that I wanted to see my daughter’s character develop. I decided that I wanted to really hear about how my husband feels at the end of the day. I decided that I wanted to see why my son likes his video games so much. I decided that even a red color on the behavior chart at school deserves a little latitude at home. If I had not, I would never have seen how my son can build entire lego sets from the ground up without even a little help from mom and dad… and I almost missed it.

For anyone not trying to miss it, for anyone trying to see their children grow, for anyone who has vowed to be present, this word is for you AND for me.

Allow for interruptions in regularly scheduled programming.

Never allow things that cannot wait to suffer for things that can. “Just a minute” can turn into hours, which can turn into days, which can turn into years. What exactly are they waiting for? Did you miss watching him play the game so that you could like another post? Did you tell her you would be there in a second to put her puzzle together so that you could comment one more time, return one more text, finish watching one more video? What is it on your to do list that is so non-negotiable? Sometimes, you just have to stop what you are doing so that you can really live. Do not spend life blinded by things that do not matter. Handle your interruptions with care. At times, interruptions are re-routes to set you back in the right direction. The kids are not the interruption. The phone call is not the interruption. Your husband is not the interruption. Your co-worker is not the interruption. What had you so engrossed that you lost sight of what mattered most is the interruption. Allow for their giggles, kisses, and warm hugs. Life is more than your to-do list.

Get rid of what prevents you from living in the moment. If your kids have too many toys, start giving them away. If you are washing too many loads of laundry, you own too many clothes. Unsubscribe from e-mails you no longer want to receive. Cross items off the list that you are doing only out of a sense of obligation. Delete. Unfollow. Let the Jones be the Jones, and stop trying to keep up with them. You are lugging around too much baggage. The people that travel the most in the world recognize that packing light comes with distinct advantages. You cannot be present when you are surrounded by stuff that no longer holds any value for you or any of the people you love.

Get some sunshine

I feel like I have said all of these things before, but sometimes I need a reminder for me. If I need a reminder, then maybe you could also use a reminder. I got lost in the success of things with no signficance. I tried to impress people who hold little value to me and ignored the ones I value most. So if you have ever been there, here it is again. Go outside. There is nothing like a little sun to put things back in perspective. You have to actually cover the screen of your phone to see what it says when the sun is shining too brightly which is probably an indication that the phone could use rest and the present could use attention. Every once in a while, get fresh air. Feel the rays of the sun against your skin. The sun does something for the attitude. The sun makes it hard to concentrate on anything but right now – this moment. The sun brings things back into focus. The SON brings things back into focus.

Your purpose is who you are all by yourself. Your purpose is that thing that makes you stand out when you are trying your best to fit in. It is what you do naturally. It is who you are without trying. Your purpose is your ordinary. In order to be present, you must find your purpose and walk in it.

I know some of you are trying to find your purpose, but the reality is that you are already there. Your purpose is your day in and day out. It is doing what you have been called to do even if no one recognizes it. It is continuing on despite your doubts and your discouragements because you are absolutely certain that this is it. This. What you are doing right now. Who you are right now.

Your purpose is when you dreamed bigger, and you do not know how to get there. Your purpose is in the middle of point A and point B. It is those things you think that no one notices.

If you have lost your purpose, and you want to know how to find it, think of this. You are here because you wanted to be present in the middle of your busy. Why? Why is that important to you? Who is that important to you? What is that important to you?

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Published by ordinarilyextraordinarymom

My name is Brittany Bonnaffons, and I feel like I should have life figured out by now. I also feel like the world judges us by unrealistic standards. I have dedicated this blog to challenging standards and instead embracing yourself for who you are - ordinarily extraordinary.
View all posts by ordinarilyextraordinarymom

Another amazing post!
Favorite Brittany quote of the day: “At times, interruptions are re-routes to set you back in the right direction.”
And I agree about the sunshine, but it is 14 degrees F here and supposed to be -4 tomorrow morning. So, the sunshine will just have to take a rain check! LOL 😀
And as much as I want to reread this right now, I suppose I should go be present in the moment and declutter something!
See ya! 🙂 ❤

I thought about that when I wrote it. I live a little further south than you and I couldn’t stand outside with the 40 degree weather, but in general we are 60s in the winter and outside is beautiful!!! On a separate note, I am learning to embrace interruptions. It has taken a little adjustment but it is happening.

60 would be nice! It actually got down to 6 below this morning, and there was a wind chill of at least -17. Right now it’s 5 degrees above 0 and snowing.
That’s a good thing to learn. Embracing interruptions can be really hard. The Lord has been reminding me recently that He is sovereign, and when I get upset about interruptions, it’s like I’m arguing with Him. Ya, and that’s not a good idea. Guess who wins every time…. ❤

Ok so this was right on time. I needed to see this THIS morning. I have been beating myself up and stressed trying to do it all. Being upset with the ones who deserve my attention far more. This was the reminder i needed. Thanks britt! Great post!!

Yes, yes, and YES!!!! I have been waffling back and forth between truly treating my blog like a business, so it can grow. With remaining fully present with my family, friends, and other real-life commitments. So praying now for God to guide me to make the right decision each day.

Loved this, especially your perspective on interruptions! I’ve been thinking on “being present” and “living in the present” for the past few weeks and I feel like you wrote the post I wanted to write, hahahaha!!

I really don’t know how you young bloggers who are in the thick of the mommy years do it all. I didn’t start blogging until my kids were in middle school or older. I had a hard enough time being distracted without my blog even then! So I’m grateful you are addressing this issue and reminding others as well as yourself, Brittany, of the need to be present with your family. I love your heart, my friend! Pinning!

Thank you Beth. I am navigating the best I can with all of the demands. Thankfully, God is in the details so He works it out to where I am not too overwhelmed trying to do both, but when I am off balance, He definitely lets me know.

Ha, Ha – I loved this: “Go outside. There is nothing like a little sun to put things back in perspective. You have to actually cover the screen of your phone to see what it says when the sun is shining too brightly which is probably an indication that the phone could use rest and the present could use attention.” So true!

Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Christian Link-Up. I have chosen your post to feature this Friday. Living in the present moment is something I strive and struggle to do. But I am working on it.

I know that it’s difficult being truly present especially when you feel you have so much that needs to get accomplished. I had to set aside my work with my boutique for a while because I needed to be more present in the moment. I have had to slow down my activity in facebook groups, posting on Instagram, and reading blogs, because I needed to focus on other things that are going on in my present. I do things very limited now when I feel like the Lord has something He wants me to put out. It’s no longer all consuming.

Yeeesss 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 That is exactly what God requires Tona. The numbers are not the end goal. Reaching people, touching the lives of others…those are the end goals. The middle is actually the most important part. I just have to remember that.

Such a great post. My to-do list has won out all too often, but I am working on changing that. I have often gotten annoyed by the “interruption” of another. But you are so right they are NOT interruptions. So many good reminders here. Thank you!!